ABSTRACT
The white-tip nematode is reported from deep-water as well as upland rice in Africa, North America, Asia, Pacific and East European countries. Though rice is the natural host of Aphelenchoides besseyi, it can survive on other host plants as well, for example, Chinese cabbage, Chrysanthemum, Italian millet, onion, soybean, strawberry, sugarcane, sweet corn and sweet potato. The white-tip nematode is seed-borne, hot water treatment of the rice seeds before sowing is the best and a simple method to control them. Sometimes chemical seed treatment has been found effective against A. besseyi, for example, acetic thiocyanatoester REE-200, benlate 50, diazinon, malathion, parathion, phosphomidon or thiabendazole. Seeds soaked in an aqueous solution of mercuric chloride or silver nitrate and fumigation of seeds with methyl bromide have been recommended for bringing down the number of nematodes. Conventional methods like burning of straw, weeds and wild rice in the field are very useful for the control of A. besseyi.
